X-ray apparatus



May 11 1926. 1,584,115

W. MEYER X-RAY APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1922 Patented May 11, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- WILLIAM MEYER, or onroaeo, ILLINOIS.

X-BAY APIPABATUS.

Application filed March 9, 1922. Serial at. 542,210.

My invention relates to X-ray apparatus In taking X-ray photographs this is imand more particularly to an improved table portant in securing clear, sharp detail unifor use in taking X-ray photographs. formly over the photograph and the desired In taking X-ray photographs or shadowhigh diagnostic value. I j graphs, as they are often termed, it is nec- Further objects and advantages of my inessary to support the X-ray subject between vention will appear from the following dethe source of X-rays and the sensitized tailed description, and the claims, taken plate or film. In present day practice, surwith an inspection of the accompanying faces for this purpose are made either of drawings, in which:

wood, celluloid or sheet metal such as alumi- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a num. Surfaces of either of these materials table embodying my invention; present practical problems which my in- Flg. 2 18 a plan view of the same;

vention avoids. For example, wood not Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken only has a grain which decreases the diagsubstantially on the line 3-3 of Fig.2; 15 nostic value of he radiograph, but is hygro- Fig. 4: is an enlarged plan view of the scopic and subject to shrinking and warpplate or film holder; and 7 ing. Celluloid is deteriorated by X-rays Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the and will not stand up for any length of time same. when subjected thereto. .Sheet metal sur- The table shown in the drawings com- 20 faces are chilling and disagreeable to the prises the four corner posts 5 secured tobody of the patient, not of the highest pergether by side pieces 6 and end pieces 7 to meability, and are yieldable and easily bent form a e g r, rame- A rail 8 exnd distorted. tends between and is secured at its opposite It is an object of my invention to provide ends to one pair of the posts or legs 5 ad- 25 an improved surface for supporting the X j acent their lower ends. The sides and ends ray subject between the source of X-rays of the table may be braced in any suitable and the sensitized plate or film, a non-hyor preferred manner and the legs or posts groscopic surface having better permeabil 5 m y eprovlded with suitable casters or ity, a stiff surface having the necessary anti-friction rollers to facilitatemovement structural strength and no grain, one that Of the table to any desired position. A top will not shrink, warp, bend or be chilling 10 having a centrally arranged longitudior otherwise disagreeable to the body of the n l y d g p g 11 eXteIldS in the patient. The material I prefer to loy table shown in the drawings, partially over to this end is bakelite, cotton fiber paper he table frame- The top 10 is supplement- 35 or a compacted isotropic web or felting of ed by a top portion 12 to cover the entire vegetable fiber cemented together by a subtable frame, it being understood that the stance such as bakelite or baking varnish, top 10 may extend over the entire table, or although any non-metallic, isotropic matebe divided or sectioned off as desired and rial which will not be deteriorated by X- that h Width of the p g 11 which y rays may be employed within the scope of be arranged through the top as desired will my invention. be varied to accommodate the particular Further objects of my invention are the plate or fi holder t e s dprovision of a novel, simple and effective The p a film hOl eI 13 is formed means for positioning the, tube tandard to carry the plate 01 is preferably along the table, novel, simple and effective .first arranged in a suitable cassette which is means for visualizing the position of the then mounted in the holder and held against plate or film from the side of the table and displacement by a retention spring 14 sea novel, simple and effective method of and cured to the bottom of the holder and havmeans for securing proper relative positioning a bent or looped end projecting out from ing of the X-ray tube and the plate or film. the end into which the cassette is inserted.

to engage the same upon insertion and prevent displacement thereof. A notch 15 in the base of the holder permits convenient access to the cassette as for the purpose of removing the same from the holder. Strips 16 secured to the under surface of the top- 10 along and projecting slightly beneath the opening 11 form tracks upon which the holder 15 is mounted for movement through the opening 11. An arm 18 secured to the under surface of the holder 13 is offset at 19 and extends out through a longitudinal slot or opening 20 in one of the side pieces 6 of the table into the path of movementof the tube standard 25.

The standard 25 is supported and guided along one side of the table by guide rods 26 secured along the upper edge of the rail-8 and the lower edge of the adjacent side piece 6. Guide members 27 bearing rollers 28 cooperable with the rods 26 are clamped or otherwise secured in proper position upon the standard 25. These guide members are bored out to receive the tube standard 25 and the part which encircles the tube standard is split as shown :at 24; to provide a split clamp which may be readily applied to the tube 25 and securely fastened.

The adjustable tube stand may be clamped in a fixed position anywhere along the table top by means of the clamping screw 23 which extends through the upper guide member 27 and engages the adjacent track .26. The guide rollers 28 which are grooved to embrace the guide rods 26 permit of this clamping action. The radiograpbic or X-ray tube 30 is enclosed in a shield 31 supported with a suitable compression tube 32 by an arm 33 angularly adjustable about the end of an extension arm 34. The arm 34 is adjustably mounted at its 'oppositt end in a frame or carriage member 35 which is in turn mounted upon the standard 25 for vertical and'angular adjustment thereupon. The tube may be of the Coolidge or any other suitable or preferred type. Where spring take-up reelsare employed with a tube of the Coolidge type the leads extend ing from the reels to the tube especially the lead in the cathode heating circuit are preferably insulated to prevent short circuiting and maintain a substantially constant resistance as the conductor is wound. upon the reel.

The top portion 10 of the table and there- .by the opening or plate tunnel 11 is covered y a coveringor patient supporting surface 40 arranged over the top 10 and secured along the edgethereof by binding strips 41 of angular formation. These strips bind the covering 40 in place and present a neat and finished appearance.

The surface or covering 420 is preferably made of bakelite, cotton fiber paper, or a compacted sheet of vegetable fiber cemented with bakelite, baking varnish or the like, which I find has better permeability than the materials heretofore used, is stifi and will therefore not be quickly bent or distorted, has the requisite structural strength and no grain and hence will not cast confusing shadows upon the plate. It will not shrink, warp or be chilling or otherwise disagreeable to the body of the patient as is the case with metallic surfaces by reason of their high heat conductivity. The provision of a supporting siuface for X-ray subjects having no grain decreasing the diagnostic value of the radiograph, one not deteriorated by X-rays, a relatively stiff non-hygroscopic surface having the requisite structural strength which will not warp or shrink or be readily bent or otherwise distorted or chilling or otherwise disagreeable to the body of the patient is novel so far as I am aware and is of great advantageto, theart. I'contemplate the use of any suitable or pre ferred compacted and cemented vegetable fiber or other non-metallic, isotropic material not deteriorated by X-rays in the formation of such a surface.

A pointer 50 carried by the tube standard 25 operates with a scale, which in the particular embodiment shown consists of markings '51 along the upper surface ofthe adjacent binding strip 41 to indicate the position of the standard and tube along the table and thereby facilitate positioning thereof. Adjacent its outer end the arm carried by and projecting from the holder 13 carries a visualizing bar 52 movable with the holder 13 along the outer side of the table. This bar may be attached to the arm 18 through a downwardly extending mounting lug 53 or in any other desired manner. Its length and the table is substantially that ofthe sensitized plate or film so that the position of the plate or filin may be quickly visualized from the side of the table. I

From the foregoing .it will now beapparent that as the holder 13 is moved through the opening 11 into the desired position, the arm 18 will be moved therewith and the bar 52 positioned to indicate the position of the plate or film from the side of the table. The tube standard 25 and arm 18 are preferably so arranged that upon engagement therebetween the tube or source of X 1*ays 30 will be positioned substantially centrally overthe plate or film in the holder 13 or at any rate the arrangement between the tube standard and arm 18 such that the desired relative positioning of the tube or source of X-rays and'the plate or film will be had when the standard.

and the arm 18 are inengagemen't. Obviously, the tube standard may be moved into the desired position as indicated by the pointer and then upon moving the holder 13t0 the position at which the standard is engaged by the arm 18 the desired positioningof the tube and standard will be had and at the same time the bar52 will provide for visualizing theposition of the plate or film from' the side of the table. Of course, the holder may be moved to the desired position first and the standard then moved into engagement therewith wit-h the same results. The upper surface of the table is provided with a pair of head pads between which the head of the patient is adapted to be held.

I do not intend to limit the invention to the details of the particular embodiment which I have selected to describe, as I am aware and contemplate that modifications and changes may be made without departing from the invention which is set out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In X-ray apparatus a subject supporting surface comprising a thin sheet formed of a phenol product of condensation and interposed between the source of X-rays and the plate or film, said phenol product of condensation surface being presented directly to the source of X-rays and supporting the X-ray subject between the source of X- rays and said plate or film.

2. The combination with an X-ray table frame having a top with an exposure opening therethrough of means for supporting a plate or film on one side of said opening, a source of X-rays on the other side of the opening and a covering comprising a thin sheet of bakelite over said opening between the source of X-rays and the plate or film, said bakelite covering being presented directly to the source of X-rays.

8. In combination, an X-ray table, an upright tube standard mounted upon one side of said table for longitudinal movement therealong, a plate or film holder carried by the table and adapted for movement under the surface of the table and longitudinally thereof, and an arm attached to said holder and extending laterally from the side of the table on which the said tube standard is mounted to lie in the path of movement of the standard to position the holder with respect to the standard upon engagement between the standard and said arm.

4. In combination, an X-ray table, said table having a surface penetrable by X-rays, a plate or film holder movable beneath said surface, and means carried by said holder for visualizing the position of the plate or film carried thereby, said means comprising a member of substantially the length of the dimension of the holder in the direction of alongside the table with its length disposed in the direction" of movement of the holder and in substantial register with the dimension of the holder in that direction.

5; In combination, an X-ray table, said table having a'surface penetrable by X-rays, a plate or film holder adjustable beneath said surface, a tube standard movable along .the table, an-arn extending from the plate 01'' film holder into the path of movement of the tube standard and meanscarried by upon said strip for movement through said opening, a tube standard movable along the table, the plate or film holder having an arm projecting through a slot in the table frame into the path of movement of said standard, and means carried by said arm for visualizing the position of the plate or film carried thereby.

7 The combination with an X-ray table having a plate tunnel of a plate or film holder movable in said tunnel, a separate tube standard movable along the side of the table independently of the plate or film holder, the plate or'film holder having an arm projecting from the side of the table into the path of movement of the standard for centrally positioning the standard with respect to the holder.

8. The combination with an X-ray table having a plate tunnel of a plate or film holder movable in said tunnel, a separate tube standard movable along the side of the table independently of the plate or film holder, the plate or film holder having an arm projecting from the side of the table into the path of movement of the standard for centrally positioning the standard with respect to the holder, and means carried by said arm for visualizing the position of the plate or film holder.

9. The combination with an X-ray table having a plate tunnel of a plate or film holder movable in said tunnel, a separate tube standard movable along the side of the table independently of the plate or film holder, the plate or film holder having an arm projecting from the side of the table into the path of movement of the standard for positioning the standard and holder with respect to each other, and means carried by said arm for visualizing the position of the plate or film holder, said arm being of substantially the length of the dimension of the holder in its direction of movement and being positioned alongside the table with its length disposed in the direction of move ment of the holder and in substantial regis'ter With 'thedimension of the holder in that direction. 1 I

10. Theoombination with an X-ray table having a plate tunnel, a top and a side rail of a plate or film holder vmovable in the tunnel, a separate tube standard movable along the side of the table independently of the plate or film holder, said holder having an arm extending through a-slot in the side rail and into the path of movement of the the table top and a pointer on the standard 1 oooperable With said scale. a

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 6th day of March, 1922.

WILLIAM MEYER. 

